So many instrument in the Astrolab, so many parameters to play with (in Analog Lab with V Collection licence), but I’m a little frustrated by the lack of real-time control on the Astrolab itself.
I’m thinking of adding a MIDI controller to add knobs (such as a Midi Fighter Twister), and edit the sounds by assigning some parameters to CC value, so as to be able to play live with more than the “only 4” macros knobs …
Did someone try this solution ?
Any feedback/recommendations ?
Thks
In addition to the 4 Macros and 4 FX knobs, AstroLab supports “9 virtual faders”, as defined in Analog Lab Pro. (in Analog Lab Settings / MIDI, change the MIDI controller to "Generic 9 knobs + 9 faders)
External MIDI/USB faders/knobs should match the default CC mapping of AstroLab:
- Fader 1: 73
- Fader 2: 75
- Fader 3: 79
- Fader 4: 72
- Fader 5: 80
- Fader 6: 81
- Fader 7: 82
- Fader 8: 83
- Fader 9: 85
Yes, indeed I’ve seen the MIDI chart with all CC value, it’s quite interesting.
I’ve also tested the assignement of a synth parameter to a virtual fader. Unfortunately the effects parameters (chorus rate, for ex.) can’t be assigned to a fader, maybe not a big problem, we have to admit we can’t do everything 
. 9 more controllers are already a good point. Maybe a future implementation in the app Astrolab Connect to have these virtual faders on a tablet ? 
I’ve seen that it’s possible to add some parameters to the CC list (in MIDI tab) but I didn’t managed yet to test it properly, probably because I don’t have a MIDI controller yet.
It would be interesting to have feedback in this topic if someone already tested the use of a “knobs bank”, such as Midi Fighter Twister, Intech Studio modules (knobs or faders), Faderfox EC4 …
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OK, so, it’s a bit confusing, I admit.
At the moment, I’m using the 9 faders from another Arturia controller.
I’ve been looking at the Intech Studio modules, and at the Crumar D9U (9 drawbars, but "might require some skills with Arduino ") but haven’t got one yet.
Yes, that’s quite flexible with the V-Collection license. Like the Macros, fader assignments can be saved on a per-preset basis, so you can really customize the controls you need individually for each preset you want to use live.
The Arturia Sound Design team has made default choices for the faders that make the most sense for each instrument; for instance on analog synths like Prophet V, OP-Xa V or Jup-8V, the faders control the 2 envelopes, on a B3V or Vox V organ, they control drawbars (in drawbar/reversed mode), on Piano V or Wurli V they control physical modeling parameters, …
Correct.
You can use a fader to control the effects that are built-in inside the instruments (requires the license for the instrument), not the Analog Lab effects.
However, you can assign the real-time “performance” Controls (Modwheel, Aftertouch, Expression) in “Keyb. Settings” to the Analog Lab effects parameters. So, for instance, you could use Expression (CC#11) to control Chorus rate, etc, …
That would be nice. Not sure if/when that could be implemented, though.
The custom MIDI Configs is a feature for Analog Lab, but it doesn’t apply to AstroLab.
AstroLab’s MIDI mapping config cannot be edited, and more CCs cannot be added (at least, not for now).
Yes, I managed to do this by attaching via usb my Korg Nanokontrol studio, mapped as many parameters as I wanted via Arturia software, and it works…ideally you would want a smaller controller to fit in that blank area on the astrolab as the nanokontrol is just a little too big, but it does work…
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